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Saturday, December 10, 2016

MP ticks off UM disciplinary panel for students' conviction

Batu Kawan MP Kasthuri Patto has singled out Universiti Malaya's disciplinary panel which yesterday found four students guilty for involvement in the "TangkapMO1" rally.

She noted that the conviction was handed out by Nahrizul Adib Kadri, Azizah Hamzah and Mohd Suffian Mohd Annuar.

The four students, Anis Syafiqah Mohd Yusof, Mohamad Luqman Nul Haqim, Muhammad Luqman Hakim and Suhail Wan Azahar, were found guilty of violating UM's rules and acting in a manner detrimental to both the university's good name and public order.

"The decision of the 3 panelists clearly contradict Article 10(a) of the Federal Constitution that provides for freedom of speech and expression and Article 10(b) which protects the freedom to assemble peacefully.

"If the Federal Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land provides for freedom to speak and assemble, then any regulation in an institute of higher learning that contradicts the spirit of the Constitution has no standing at all.

"How would these 3 esteemed panellists justify public rallies detrimental to public order?" she said in a statement today.

The DAP lawmaker questioned if the three had any idea who "MO1" was.

The "TangkapMO1" (Arrest MO1) rally took place in August after the US Department of Justice (DOJ) said its investigation found US$3.5 billion from Malaysian state fund 1MDB was misappropriated.

The DOJ said US$731 million of that money went to a senior government official, which it did not name but described as "Malaysian Official 1 (MO1)".

Kasthuri questioned if the panel would have applied the same standards if the students had participated in last Sunday's rally condemning the killings of Rohingya, which Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak participated.

"Malaysian citizens from all walks of life stand in solidarity with Anis, Mohamad Luqman, Muhammad Luqman Hakim, Suhail who have been victims of a paranoid, cowardice establishment that chooses to silence voices of dissent," she said.

She also urged the public to support a petition asking for the action against the students to be dropped. - Mkini